A hot water bottle is an economical and environmentally friendly way to keep your toes or lap warm during cold winter nights. But they’re not exactly classy, are they? Spruce up your hot water bottle with some formal wear—a masculine tuxedo, some feminine lace, or both at once! Next time you throw a party in your bed, your hot water bottle will be dress code ready.

Newlywed brides and grooms may also enjoy this gift. Thrifty knitters can work it up in any aran or similar weight yarn, although a cotton and/or silk fibre is recommended. See individual project pages for specific yarn recommendations.

A note on required techniques: This cozy is knit in separate pieces that are later seamed together. The white side’s lace requires comfort with different increases and decreases, and is explained both via chart and line-by-line instructions. The tux side requires seaming of separate black and white sections, working increases and decreases, and maintaining a 1x1 rib over a changing number of stitches. Knitters unfamiliar with lace knitting or sewing different sections together may find this pattern challenging. The experienced should find it an engaging knit, made up of manageable pieces that stay interesting but still have an internal logic. And it’ll be a hoot when people ask you what you’re knitting!